**3.2 Lesson from some biogas initiatives (case studies) in Africa**

As indicated in Table 3, there are some digesters have been installed in a number of sub-Saharan Africa. These have mainly been pilot or demonstration projects aimed at testing the technical viability of small-scale biogas technology at a limited scale (Hivos, 2009a). These pilot projects have mostly been funded by non-governmental organizations and built for health clinics, schools, and small-scale farmers. While the small-scale biogas plants are located throughout Africa, only a few of them are operational (Parawira, 2009). There is also limited documentation on whether the existing biogas digesters have been successful in achieving the benefits highlighted in section 3.1. Some country specific examples is Tanzania, Ivory Cost and Burundi, which have produced biogas from animal and human waste using the Chinese fixed-dome digester and the Indian floating-cover digester (Omer and Fadalla, 2003). These have not been reliable and in many cases, poor performance has been reported (Omer and Fadalla, 2003). Thus, the plants have only operated for a short period due to poor technical quality (Mshandate and Parawira, 2009).

Currently, a number of different organizations are establishing biogas initiatives in Africa, particularly in rural areas, in order to supply cleaner burning energy solutions. These initiatives are at different stages of development such as: prefeasibility, feasibility, design and implementation to a limited extent. For instance, Burkard (2009) reports on five biogas case studies in Kenya which were to utilize agricultural leaves, residues from floriculture, and residues from vegetable production and canning. In 2010, it was reported that the Dutch government was to spend 200 million Kenyan Shilling to set up 8000 biogas digesters throughout the country. The initiative was targeting farmers practising zero grazing (Daily Nation, 2010). Similar projects are being implemented in Ethiopia, Uganda, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania. There are also some other initiatives such as biogas for better life, which is at various stages of biogas development in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mali, Senegal, and Ghana1. The Netherland Development Organization (SNV) has been supporting the development of National Biogas programmes in East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda) and West Africa (Senegal and Burkina Faso)2. While there are few documented successful small-scale biogas plants in the rural areas of Africa, this section will present some selected country specific biogas projects.

<sup>1</sup> http://www.biogasafrica.org/

<sup>2</sup> http://www.snvworld.org/en/ourwork/Pages/Renewable%20Energy.aspx

Anaerobic Biogas Generation for Rural Area Energy Provision in Africa 53

Mozambique has a population of 22.6 million people, in which 61.6% reside in rural area in 2010 (United Nations, 2007). Similar to Ghana, the Mozambique government does not have an agency solely supporting the development of biogas. Some initiative such as Biogas Technology West Africa Ltd5 is however, also undertaking a biogas power project in the country. The project is an electric power system powered by a biogas-fired internal combustion engine generator at Mpunsa Village, Chicualacuala District, Gaza Province in

Philippi biogas project is funded by the working for energy programme of South Africa, and it is situated in horticultural area zoned as agricultural land6. Two digesters have been constructed on site and each of them is 10 m3. The total plant capacity could 12000 - 15000 litres of biogas per batch load. This is equivalent to 25kw per batch or more than 100 hours

Tanzania has a population of 42.5 million people of which 75% live in the rural area (United Nations, 2007). This is one of the countries that has progressed well in terms of biogas development and has several case studies. The first one is in the region of Tanga, which is known for sisal production as a cash crop. The sisal is sold to a number of sisal processing companies to produce fibre. Using the available production methods, only 4 % of the sisal biomass is recovered as fibre and the rest is waste, which is either burnt, producing carbon dioxide or left to decompose, producing Methane (The Bioenergy Site, 2009). Utilising sisal waste for bioenergy can thus be environmentally beneficial since 80% of the plant mass is suitable for biogas production, and can also increase profit to the sisal growing farmers (The Bioenergy Site, 2009). With this opportunity in place, UNIDO, through its initiative on "Rural Energy for productive use" established a biogas pilot demonstration project, with the support from Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)7. The plant situated at the Katani Sisal estate in Hale, and utilises the sisal waste generated from the sisal processing plant. The biogas power plant has installed capacity of 300 kW, and was inaugurated by the Tanzanian President in 2008 (UNIDO, 2008). The electricity generated from this plant is used for lighting and running small-scale industries. The company, Katani Limited, also provides energy services to local schools and hospitals in the area (PISCES and FAO, 2009). The company currently plans to expand the capacity to 7000 kW that will be connected to the

A Tanzanian Domestic Biogas programme was also initiated in 2007, following a feasibility study by the GTZ. The programme set an ambitious goal of developing 3500 to 4000 units per annum. However, it was estimated that the current construction rate is only 200 to 400

of cooking time. This project is still in its early stages of implementation.

**3.2.3 Mozambique** 

Mozambique.

**3.2.4 South Africa** 

**3.2.5 Tanzania** 

grid (The East African, 2011).

5 http://www.biogasonline.com/projects.asp

7 http://www.unido.org/index.php?id=6464

6 http://www.smart2energy.co.za/index.php/pilot-projects/western-cape

per year (Sika, 2010).

#### **3.2.1 Rwanda**

Rwanda has a population of 10.2 million people of which 81% of this population reside in the rural areas in 2010 (United Nations, 2007). One of the famous biogas programmes is the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) large-scale biogas plants developed and installed in prisons. The aim of these plants was to treat toilet wastes and generate biogas for cooking. The first plant prison which was operational in 2001, and by 2011, KIST has managed to build and operationalize biogas plants in 10 prisons. Each prison is supplied with a linked series of underground biogas digesters, in which the waste decomposes to produce biogas. After this treatment, the bio-effluent is safe to be used as fertiliser for production of crops and fuel wood. The project was funded by Red Cross and the plant consists of five interlocking chambers. KIST's project saves 50% of wood for cooking and it won Ashden Award in 2006. The projects construction is managed by KIST, who also provides training to both civilians and prisoners.

Another biogas programme is the National Biogas Programme which is promoted by the Rwanda Ministry of Infrastructure, through the support by the Netherlands development organization. The programme aims at reducing firewood use by the households. The Ministry of Infrastructure estimates that 441 units have been installed to date, and approximately 15 000 households will be using biogas by end of 2011 for cooking and lighting3. The Ministry of Infrastructure of Rwanda is also collaborating with other ministries (e.g. Ministry of Education) in order to develop biogas plants in schools, clinics and community institutions.

### **3.2.2 Ghana**

Ghana has a population of 24.8 million of which 48.5% live in the rural areas (United Nations, 2007). Netherlands Development Organization (2007) estimates that Ghana has a potential to realise 280 000 domestic biogas plants, that is capable of producing 6000 m3 of liquid fertiliser, which would increase yield by 25%. However, low perception of biogas has modern energy has made Ghana not to realise the full potential of biogas utilisation (Bensah and Brew-Hammond, 2008). Bensah and Brew-Hammond (2010) highlights the status of the biogas development in Ghana, in which only about 200 units have been installed, thus lagging behind in comparison with other African countries such as Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Some initiatives such as Biogas Technology West Africa Ltd4 , funded by UNIDO has implemented a number of biogas digesters in Ghana for schools, hospitals and colleges. These are mainly underground masonry dome systems in the range of 60 m3 to 160 m3 volume. One example of these projects is Keta secondary school plant for 1200 users, and has a capacity of 80 m3. The plant is built in sandy, water logged area and it makes use of human waste. The gas is used for cooking. The future development of biogas in Ghana will however not be left to private investors and initiatives if the benefit to the rural communities is to be realised. Bensah and Brew-Hammond (2010) argues that, for successful future development of biogas in Ghana, there is a need for establishing a government body that solely focuses on promoting biogas.

<sup>3</sup> http://mininfra.gov.rw/index.php?option=com\_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=143

<sup>4</sup> http://www.biogasonline.com/projects.asp
